Synthesis of rod-like ternary carbide LaNiC2 by a solvothermal route

LaNiC2 was synthesized by a solvothermal route in a stainless steel autoclave at 600 °C. In this process, nickel chloride, lanthanum chloride and toluene were used as raw materials, and metallic Na and Li alloy were used as reductant. The products were characterized with an X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The LaNiC2 products consisted of a great deal of micro-rods. The micro-rods had diameters ranging from hundreds of nanometers to several micrometers and lengths ranging from several micrometers to tens of micrometers.